Positively Positive

Iowa Senate District 40 candidate Tim Tripp is seen here at a recent candidate forum in Oskaloosa.

Editors Note: The views and opinions expressed in this editorial are not necessarily the views or opinions of Osky News.

We are all sick of the negative political advertising. But, a positive campaign is more than just “not negative.” I have heard candidates say they didn’t go negative; meaning they didn’t run any negative, half-truth advertisements about the other candidate.

But a positive campaign uses positive terms to 1) describe the other candidate (i.e., avoid the term “opponent”); 2) describe the government; or 3) address the issues. A positive campaign is positively positive in all of its facets.

Government exists to help and to protect. Candidates should be committed to making it better, rather than tearing it down so that they can then get elected to fix it. In the midst of the noise, that irony is lost. Or perhaps that is why we have become so cynical. Perhaps that is why we see bullying in schools, because our children see us bullying each other on TV and on the Capitol steps. Let’s commit, even in the 11th hour, to be civil toward each other. Come Wednesday, many of us will need to work together for the common good, and to help Iowa be the best it can be. It starts by focusing on what is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.

Tim Tripp